Evaluation of hematopoietic system effects after in vitro radiofrequency radiation exposure in rats

Purpose:This study was designed to investigate the effect of a 900-MHz continuous-wave (CW) radiofrequency radiation (RFR) exposure on the hematopoietic system in the rat. Materials and methods:Rat long bones (femur and tibia) were divided into two groups: Sham-exposed and radiofrequency (RF)-exposed. The mean Specific energy Absorption Rate (SAR) at 900-MHz averaged over the bone marrow (calculated by the finite-difference-time-domain ( fdtD) method) was 2 W/kg at 16.7W root mean square (rms) forward power into a Transverse Electromagnetic (TEM) cell. The bones, placed in a Petri dish containing media, were kept in the TEM cell for 30min duration of sham or RF exposure. After exposure, the bone marrow cells were extracted and the following end points were tested: (a) Proliferation rate of whole bone marrow cells, (b) maturation rate of erythrocytes, (c) proliferation rate of lymphocytes, and (d) DNA damage (strand breaks/alkali labile sites) of lymphocytes. Results:Our data did not indicate any significant change in the proliferation rate of bone marrow cells and lymphocytes, erythrocyte maturation rate and DNA damage of lymphocytes. Conclusion:Our findings revealed no effect on the hematopoietic system in rats for 900 MHz CW RF exposure at the 2 W/kg localised SAR limit value recommended by the International Commission for Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) for public exposures